Kerala CPI-M worker kicks pregnant woman, arrested

Kozhikode (Kerala): A local leader of the ruling CPI-M and five of his accomplices were arrested in this Kerala district on Thursday for kicking a pregnant woman, resulting in her losing the baby, police said on Thursday.

All six, including the Communist Party of India-Marxist's T. Thamti, were produced before a court near here and sent to judicial custody, a Kodanchery police station officer, who did not wish to be identified, told IANS.

"All those involved in the assault have been identified and there are no more accused in the case."

The incident took place on January 28 when the victim's husband Siby Chacko had an argument with the group of men following a property dispute over boundaries.

Soon, the argument turned violent and a fight broke out. In the melee, Chacko's wife who was eight months pregnant, was kicked in her belly and collapsed.

She was taken to the Medical College Hospital here but the baby could not be saved and the mother had to undergo an abortion. She was discharged after a week in the hospital.

It was only after the local political parties -- including the Congress and the BJP -- took up the issue that the police acted.

The state BJP unit had planned a march on Thursday to the police station which was cancelled after the accused were arrested.